Itinerary: A Weekend in Brisbane with Kids
Are you heading to Brisbane for the weekend and looking for an itinerary of the best things to do in Brisbane with kids?
Look no further!
Whether it is hot and sunny, or cold and raining, there are plenty of fun ways to explore Brisbane with kids.
Of course, you can mix and match the different itinerary options to do what is best for your family and your visit to Brisbane.
Keep reading to find 4 different weekend long family-friendly itineraries for visiting Brisbane with kids.
A Hot Weekend in Brisbane with Kids Itinerary
Friday Night: Arrive at your hotel and check in. Depending on the time, head to South Bank for dinner and then swim at any public pools that are open late. Choose from Streets Beach, Aquativity, and Boat Pool, or swim in both pools and play on the splash pad. Lockers are available for use as are change rooms and toilets.
South Bank has lots of restaurants to choose from, with most cuisines available. Whether you want Thai, Turkish, Mexican, pizza, sushi, or burgers, you can find them at the restaurants near Southbank.
Not sure where to stay during your visit to Brisbane? Check out The Best Hotels in Brisbane, which include family-friendly options.
Saturday Morning: Before it gets too hot, explore Brisbane by the river. Take a boat ride, go kayaking, play at one of the playgrounds by the river, or take a walk along the river.
For lunch, enjoy the river views by eating at one of the restaurants at Howard Street Wharfs. Felon’s Brewery has an outside play area for kids.
Saturday Afternoon: Spend the hottest part of the day exploring a museum. Sparklab at Queensland Museum is fun for science-loving kids. If you are looking for a free museum, The Museum of Brisbane is free and there is a free 15-minute tour of the Clock Tower available but you must sign up in advance.
If it is really hot and you want to swim, check out this list of Public Pools, Splash Pads, and Waterslides for Kids in Brisbane.
Saturday Night: It usually cools down at night in Brisbane, and that is the perfect time to watch a rugby game at Suncorp Stadium or a cricket match or an AFL match at The Gabba depending on the time of year.
Sunday Morning: Explore a new-to-you area of Brisbane on a Mystery Picnic. AmazingCo has many options for locations whether you want to stay in the city or head into the suburbs. Read about our experience at a Mystery Picnic in Paddington.
Kids love to play games and solve puzzles, and the Mystery Picnic is a great way to explore a new neighborhood and get to try a variety of restaurants and bakeries at once. Plus it is always fun to go on a picnic, and often easier than eating in a restaurant.
Looking for ideas on what to do at night with kids in Brisbane? Here is a list of our favorites.
A Cold Weekend in Brisbane with Kids Itinerary
Friday Night: Head to Eat Street North Shore for dinner and entertainment. Kids have a wide variety of options for dinner and dessert, and the atmosphere definitely has vacation vibes.
Saturday Morning: Visit the Australian animals at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. For those who wish to feed the kangaroos, get there early! Of course, you can feed them all day, but they quickly lose interest.
Lone Pine is a great place to get your picture with a koala, see a platypus, and feed wild lorikeets. Add a Brisbane River Cruise to your day, and arrive at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary by boat.
Saturday Afternoon: Choose from one of The Best Kid-Friendly High Teas in Brisbane. There are plenty of options to choose from with a wide variety of high tea experiences in Brisbane. Whether you are looking for a budget high tea, a luxury high tea, or a themed high tea, it is easy to find a high tea to suit your family.
Saturday Night: Play miniature golf at Victoria Park. There is a bistro at Victoria Park with a playground so the kids can play while they wait for their meal. Throughout the year the miniature golf course is decorated for various holidays such as Halloween, Christmas, and Easter.
Sunday Morning: Explore Roma Street Parkland. The gardens at Roma Street Parkland are gorgeous, and there are plenty of trails to take. There are 2 playgrounds in Roma Street Parkland.
Can't decide where to eat? Here is a list of Kid-Friendly Restaurants in Brisbane.
A Rainy Weekend in Brisbane with Kids Itinerary
Friday Night: Don’t let the rain keep you from exploring Brisbane! There are lots of arcades to choose from as well as escape rooms, bowling alleys, and indoor miniature golf.
Here are 9 Kid-Friendly Escape Rooms in Brisbane, Indoor Putt-Putt in Brisbane amd 16 Best Indoor Fun Ideas with Kids in Brisbane for more ideas on where to go.
Saturday Morning: Explore the museums. Sparklab is a hands-on science museum specifically for kids. Sparklab is inside the Queensland Museum which has other exhibits that are kid-friendly. The nearby Children’s Art Centre in QAGOMA has a free art exhibit for kids.
Saturday Afternoon: If the rain lets up, take a walk around the Botanic Gardens at Mount Coot-tha, but if it is still raining, watch a movie at the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium.
Saturday Night: Go see a show! See if there is a kid-friendly show being performed at QPAC or Brisbane Arts Theatre.
Sunday Morning: Learn at any one of the Discovery Centers that are attached to bushwalks near Brisbane. If the rain stops, enjoy a quick hike. Some of our favorite bush walks with discovery centers include Indiscapes Environmental Centre, Karawatha Forest Discovery Centre, and Daisy Hill Koala Centre
Read 23 Fun Things to do When it is Raining in Brisbane for more ideas.
A Weekend in Brisbane with Adventurous Kids Itinerary
Friday Night: Start off your Brisbane trip by climbing Story Bridge at sunset. Kids as young as 6 are able to climb Story Bridge with an adult, as long as they meet the height requirement. If you arrive too late to climb, there are bridge climbs during the day.
Read about our Bridge Climb with kids.
Saturday Morning and Afternoon: Take a day trip to Moreton Island to go snorkeling at Tangalooma Reefs and sandboarding down the sand dunes.
Saturday Night: Explore Brisbane River by night on an Illuminated Kayak Tour. If you would rather kayak during the day, there are daytime kayaking options as well.
Sunday Morning: Climb the rocks or go abseiling at Kangaroo Point. The views are beautiful, and there are always people rock climbing and abseiling at Kangaroo Point if you would rather watch before you climb. Kangaroo Point is a great place to walk along the river before or after your climb.
For more ideas, read 10 Daring Things to do in Brisbane with Adventurous Kids.
Brisbane with Kids Itinerary Wrap-Up
There are plenty of family-friendly things to do in Brisbane, no matter the weather.
You can easily follow this itinerary or pick and choose from any of the 4 itineraries offered to design your family’s perfect weekend in Brisbane Itinerary.
Brisbane with Kids FAQ
Yes, Brisbane is a family-friendly city with plenty to do for kids of all ages. South Bank has multiple free public pools and lots of restaurants. The Culture Centre is located near Southbank. A few museums are located at the Cultural Centre as is QPAC, a large theatre.
Brisbane has public transportation including buses, trains, and ferries.
Families visiting Brisbane enjoy South Bank and the surrounding areas. There is plenty to do in South Bank, including free museums and free swimming pools. Multiple playgrounds are located at South Bank as is a rainforest walk and a river walk.